ARMAGH — Did you know that it was possible to make your own dress? Jenn Mazey and Savannah Rohrabaugh, seniors at United High School who took a sewing class taught by Ellen Plowman, decided to do just that.

For the past few months they have worked on this project together and finally finished it just in time for the winter semi-formal dance that was held on Feb. 15.

[PHOTO: Jenn Mazey and Savannah Rohrabaugh, seniors at United High School, wore their handmade dresses. (Submitted photo/United High School)]

When asked what made them decide to pursue this daunting task, Mazey replied, “We needed a good project for sewing class and we thought it would be a fun to make our own dresses.”

Both girls proved to be hardworking and were determined to finish their dresses before the dance; they worked not only in their sewing class but through their study halls and in any spare time that they had throughout the day.

There were times of frustration, however, according to both girls.

Rohrabaugh said, “At times it would get frustrating when I would spend a few hours working on the dress and realize that I had made a mistake and then have to start over again.”

Mazey also said that “when we had so many alterations, it did worry me because I thought we wouldn’t be able to finish on time.”

Plowman helped out the two girls by giving advice based on her own personal experience. “In the past, I have made wedding dresses and even my own prom dress when I was in high school.”

She also helped the girls by “giving them some background information, teaching them how to read a pattern while sewing, demonstrating a few different techniques and going to Johnstown to buy supplies for the dresses.”

When asked if they would do another project like this again, Rohrabaugh responded, “Definitely. We had fun and it is nice to use something you made yourself.”

After enjoying making their dresses, they decided to go further with their newfound knowledge. Their next project is to make sun dresses for this summer. And to top it off, both girls earned an A for their dresses.